Bridal Gowns Get Colorful
Posted by Lisa on Nov 07, 2007. Filed under Fashion, Off Beat, Stuff We Love, Trend Watch, Wedding Dresses
Comments (11), Permalink
Walk into a California bridal salon and you expect a sea of white (or ivory, or cream). More and more, though, we’re seeing splashes of bright color on the typical white gown—and even more dramatic dresses that are far from pale. Deep red, sapphire blue…our own production guru Sharon was married in a gorgeous ivory and gold frock with green beading.
Brides traditionally wear white because it’s the color of purity and joy. But other colors may bring a more personalized feeling to your wedding. What about wearing the same color you wore when you met or had your first date? By the time we get married, we know what colors look best on us and few of us say our favorite color is white. Why not wear a color that makes you feel beautiful?
But what I want to know is: when push comes to shove, would you buck tradition and wear a non-white wedding dress? If not, why not?
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When I shopped for my dress, the sample I tried on was actually a bridesmaid gown by Watters & Watters. It was raspberry chiffon. I meant to order it in ivory—but when it came time to make it official, I changed my mind. I wanted to look HOT for my beachy, Hollywood-retro wedding, not faux-virginal (hey, I was in my 30s by the time I made the promenade down the aisle!)
I accessorized with long, white gloves, and a string of white pearls that had belonged to my mother. I had my tailor add pearl detailing on the bow that held the train, and on the bodice.
(My wedding cake was accented with raspberry colored ribbon.)
I did have to prepare my mother-in-law so she wouldn’t be surprised, but everyone was very complimentary.
It was a bold move—and I’d do it again in a heartbeat!
I tried on several colors when I was selecting my wedding dress. Personally, I love green and red maroon. However, when it was time to wear my gown and stand at the alter, I was in a beautiful white dress. The reason we should wear a white dress because it distinguish us from the crowd. You can change into another color after the wedding ceremony is over. White is a must because that’s how people identify us.
My wedding dress is actually a dreamy gown that is hot pink with an orange and light pink dipped train in very sheer silk. I think the important thing is that it is a gown that you will remember as THE GOWN you wore on YOUR wedding day. I don’t believe color matters. I feel like all brides look exactly the same, made from a cookie cutter, as do all weddings and receptions. Stay true to yourself and don’t feel like you have to do this or that because “that’s what you do at a wedding!” Boo.
I’m not married yet, but I plan to wear a non-white dress for my wedding. The reason women wear white dresses dates back to the Victorian Era when womens’ sexuality was shunned and controlled. Women wear white because it symbolizes virginity, purity, innocence, etc. I don’t agree with the tradition and I plan to celebrate my freedom and individuality. As far as people being able to distinguish us from a crowd, I would hope that my loved ones who are sharing my wedding day with me would recognize me for reasons other than the color of my dress. I’m sure I’ll stand out just fine in a brightly colored dress.
I am enganged and plan NOT to wear a white wedding gown. White didn’t actually become the color symbolizing purity and joy for most of Europe until the Victorian Era, when the eventual Queen of England decided she would wear white. I don’t know about any of you- but dead queens from another country don’t dictate my fashion choices- especially on one of the more important days of my life.
Typically before that time period- blue actually symbolized purity and joy and many other cultures use color to symbolize those aspects as well.
Also, typically your wedding dress happened to be the best dress you owned and it didn’t matter one bit what color it was. Women now pay huge sums of money for a gown that she’ll wear once in that awful, INSIPID white, cream or ivory.
No, I will be in whatever color makes me happiest-which is likely to be a lovely medium or dark grey (my favorite color) with a nice pop of brighter color on the dress somewhere with pretty coordinating flowers.
Truly- I have to say like that idea: Gray’s different but still neutral enough to do exactly as you suggest and pair a bright color of your choice. That’ll definitely make you the center of attention for your wedding!
What I wonder, though, is if brides DON’T choose white, do they tell their guests not to wear their specific color to avoid copycats? Most people are trained not to wear white to a wedding, but gray is so in right now, I wonder if multiple people will be wearing your shade…
Lis
Good for you, Truly Traditional Bride! My best friend was married in a lovely silver-grey ‘40s inspired dress, with lilac accents. She looked so fabulous! I noticed for the first time designers are including at least one eye-popping color gown in their collections, such as Maggie Sottero’s peach beauty. And check out the pretty red number in Nazzy’s Bridal’s collection in our Designer Showcase! Even Vera Wang has announced she’s using more color, and her last two collections had non-white gowns (more like a tea-stained beigeish shade).
So follow your fashion heart!
Amen to “truly traditional bride!” This article is incorrect and should be taken down. Do some RESEARCH before blithely claiming “it’s the color of purity!!!!” when actually NO, it is not - it’s “what the Queen wore that sparked a fashion trend.”
Article FAIL.
I’m not traditional at all, in any way, so why would my wedding be? My Engagement ring was a gold tree clutching a green sapphire, my favourite stone and colour. A custom piece. I’m a woman who owns and operates a (masonry) construction company. I can easily survive indefinitely deep in the Canadian shield without any supplies. I’m in every way bold. So I am marrying in the same shade of green as my sapphire. A bright leafy green. I’m making the gown myself, adding gold beads to a cut and colour which highlight all the most beautiful aspects of myself. My waist length wavy honey brown hair, hazel eyes, golden skin tone. White makes me look sallow.
And who really wants to spend thousands on the dress, when you could use that money for a house or wonderful honeymoon?
ya.. when it comes to bridal gowns many women prefer white..buy things are changing today’s bride also prefer other colors which are in the fashion.
Even they prefer short bridal gowns which are also not so traditional.
Check out here summer dresses
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I actually bought two dresses: one white and one a gorgeous, shimmery two-toned pink. I didn’t decide until days before the wedding. I went with the white (and it looked great in the black & white photos), but I didn’t return the pink. Two weeks later I wore the pink to a friend’s wedding.